Title: Sail Home
Author: Leah Beth

Summary: Four drabbles (pieces of writing exactly 100 words long). A companion piece to Glimpse

Disclaimer: All names, characters, and places contained herein are property of Tolkien Enterprises with which I am in no way affiliated. I am making no profit from the publication of this story.

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Return to the Water
You are not afraid of the River, though you have ample reason to shun the water. It took your parents from you, but you refuse to fear it. Not anymore.

After your parents' deaths, you not only would not go near the River, but you refused to bathe in a full tub of water. You would not succumb to the same watery death as your parents.

But Meriadoc had no way of knowing that. When he asked you to teach him to swim, you could not deny him. You could never deny him. And so you returned to the water.


Failed Hope (alternate universe)
From the beginning, I was against Peregrin joining the Fellowship on its Quest. Though I had seen nothing clearly, I felt certain that only pain and death were in his future.

Pain and death the young one did endure, enough to embitter him towards the world, enough that he marched willingly towards his final battle. In the end, Peregrin's hope failed, his hope for himself and that for his cousin's mission.

The grave is plain, with only a single marker. Three bundles of flowers are set before the stone for the three brave Hobbits who lie now beneath the ground.


Sail Home (movie-verse)
The journey home from the Havens is a lonely, tear-filled ride. Though I ride most of the way with Misters Merry and Pippin, I feel the more lonely that I ever have in my life. Mister Frodo has left Middle-earth forever and I will never see him again.

I open the Red Book, just to see his handwriting again. There is a loose piece of paper stuck in the cover.

Sam, I am not taking the last ship into the West. You, too, were a Ringbearer, for a time. When your time comes, you will be able to sail home.


New Master (movie-verse)
I come to Bag End today to clean out Mister Frodo's things, to ready it for sale. What else can I do, with Mister Frodo over the Sea? The smial just can't sit empty.

And it seems like it won't. On his desk is the deed to Bag End, signed over to me. All seven signatures in red ink are there, plain as day. Mister Frodo left Bag End to me and Rosie.

There is also a note: This is the least I can do, Sam, to repay all that you have done for me. Fill Bag End with love.